A day after giving the world a first, quick glimpse of its upcoming CT6 flagship sedan, Cadillac is offering still more information about its future product plans. And where it is trying to flesh out the model mix to catch up to key European rivals, it appears Caddy will also be filling in white space in its powertrain portfolio.
That includes a new twin-turbo V-8 that will show up in the CT6, indicated Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen in a Q&A session posted by Jalopnik. It would be one of several turbo offerings available on the CT6 line.
“The lightweight body construction allows us to push the envelope when it comes to powertrain in a way we know that the rest of the industry will follow,” de Nysschen said in response to a reader’s question. “This includes a very wide mix of engines, starting with a 2.0-liter turbo, up to, eventually, a high-performance advanced V-8 turbo.”
Don’t expect to see the bi-turbo V-8 come to market at the CT6 launch, however. The South African-born executive stressed that it will be part of the longer-term lifecycle planning for the big sedan.
“As you know development cycles for this kind of thing are not short,” added David Caldwell, Cadillac’s chief media spokesman, in a subsequent e-mail to TheDetroitBureau.com. “So we’re talking about something beyond the immediate future. But it’s in our plan.”
Such a powertrain would seem critical to taking on such flagship German competition as the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG, and would likely have to turn out something at least in the general range of power, the big Benz thrusting out 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
(Cadillac offers first glimpse of new CT6 flagship. For more, Click Here.)
Cadillac would be the first GM brand to go with a twin-turbo V-8. The maker has used supercharging before – notably on the new 2015 Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette Z06 models, but not a pair of turbos.
There had been rumors, prior to the 2014 launch of the Corvette Stingray, that a twin-turbo engine might be used in that model. But global product chief Mark Reuss said the project didn’t quite develop the sort of performance characteristics expected of a Vette and was put back onto the shelf. If that engine has been dusted off for use by Cadillac, said a source, it would have to undergo some extensive retuning to make sure that it is in line with what Caddy buyers might expect.
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“Imagine how this car would perform with a twin-turbo V-8. Have patience, grasshopper,” teased de Nysschen.
Caddy has other plans for the CT6 over its lifecycle. Among other things, it is working up a new, semi-autonomous system called SuperDrive that would allow hands-free driving on limited-access highways. This technology is expected to make its debut in 2017.
(To see more about Chevy cutting ties with Kurt Busch, Click Here.)
What else might be in store? Could Caddy have additional body variants in the works, akin to the Mercedes S63 Coupe?
We’re planning to sit down with de Nysschen to learn more during the Geneva Motor Show next week.
Speaking as a guy who sometimes fights primal urges to use both feet while driving, how would a car know it’s on a limited access highway?
Navi system provides mapping data that indicates where it is, for one thing.
Paul E.
I find it interesting that we have an all out HP race going on between car makers in a time in history when everyone is claiming to be “green” and thoughtful about the environment. While I personally love torque/HP in a car – especially for track use, I find it really a waste to have 500+ HP for a performance street car.
Yes I understand the fun and the status associated with the super power levels we see today – with clean emissions no less, but I still find it odd that these high powered engines are becoming the “norm”. I mean how many people need 500+ HP for street use? I’d personally prefer to see lighter, better handling cars and reasonable power for a more balanced combination.
There’s research that shows that if a restaurant includes a healthy choice like a salad on the menu, alongside the more unhealthy stuff, people choose the “bad” food more frequently. The presence of the salad makes them feel virtuous for considering it, but they reward themselves with the burger for just the fact that they thought about the salad
So a buyer might think “Gee, I think that Volt is swell” and subconsciously pat themselves on the back for thinking about it…then sign up for a nice Z06